Muzzle brake

ABSTRACT

An internally threaded sleeve having three circumferentially spaced supports extending axially beyond one of its ends. A centrally bored, circular plate having its plane transversely disposed to the central axis of the sleeve and secured to the supports at a spaced distance from the end of the sleeve. A depression formed on the circumference of the plate for receiving the rib of a shotgun. The sleeve is threadable on external threads formed on the end of a gun barrel and held against rotational movement by the presence of the gun rib in the plate depression.

United States Patent [72] EdwardL. Moragne Inventor 4723 Nenana,Houston, Tex. 77035 [2| Appl. No. 833,343 [22] Filed June 16, 1969 [45]Patented Sept. 7,1971

[54] MUZZLE BRAKE 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. I

[52] U.S.Cl 89/14C [51] lnt.Cl F41c 21/18 [50] Field of Search 42/79;89/ 1 4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,214 6/1890Maxim.....'...., sq 14 3 1,598,360 8/1926 Pavek 42/79 1,854,974 4/1932Bemat.... 89/14 (.3) 3,179,011 4/1965 Rahm 89/14 (.3) 3,455,203 7/1969Pillersdorf 89/14 (.3)

' Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Stephen C.Bentley AttorneyCarlos A. Torres ABSTRACT: An internally threaded sleevehaving three circumferentially spaced supports extending axially beyondone of its ends. A centrally bored, circular plate having its planetransversely disposed to the central axis of the sleeve and secured tothe supports at a spaced distance from the end of the sleeve. Adepression formed on the circumference of the plate for receiving therib of a shotgun. The sleeve is threadable on external threads fonned onthe end of a gun barrel and held against rotational movement by thepresence of the gun rib in the plate depression.

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FIG.2

Edward L. Morogne INVENTOR BY Conlnfl. Tom

ATTORNEY MUZZLE BRAKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to means for reducing the recoilproduced by firearms. More specifically, the present invention relatesto an improved muzzle brake for use with firearms.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Various devices have been employedfor reducing the recoil caused when a rifle or gun is fired. Suchdevices have included inertial absorbers installed at various locationsin the structure of the gun or rifle. Devices of the inertial type areoften undesirable in that they tend to destroy the natural balance ofthe firearm and are often bulky and cumbersome Various muzzle brakeshave been employed to reduce the effect of recoil and, in some cases,the use of such brakes has been more satisfactory than the inertialrecoil devices.

While they have been adequate for some purposes, the muzzle brakes knownto applicant have several common objections. Often the brake must beinstalled on the firearm by permanent means such as welding orsoldering, thereby limiting the firearm to the particular performancecharacteristics of the brake. In removable muzzle brakes, variousrelatively complex locking devices have been required to prevent thebrake from working free of the barrel. Such locking devices are, in someuses, required to be permanently secured to the barrel whichnecessitates additional modification of the firearm and further limitsits general utility. In many of the muzzle brakes being presentlyemployed, whether they be of the permanent or removable types, recoil inthe firearm is not substantially reduced, the shot pattern isundesirably altered and the effective range and power of the firearm arereduced. The complex design of many of the conventional muzzle brakeswhich often employ a number of close tolerance ports andvariable-diameter bores also makesthese devices relative ly expensive toproduce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The muzzle brake of the present invention isdesigned to effectively reduce the recoil of hand-held firearms in asimple, efficient manner by means of a single, centrally boreddeflection plate employed as a reaction surface. The deflection plate ispositioned and'supported in front of the gun barrel by means of threesupports extending from an internally threaded sleeve engaged withthreads formed on the barrel.

A notch formed along the edge of the plate engages the sight rib fromthe gun barrel to prevent the brake from rotating and disengaging thebarrel. The area of contact between the three supports and rib and theplate are equal to each other and are equally disposed circumferentiallyabout the plateto ensure a balanced reaction force.

The design of the brake affords maximum power and range and minimizesdistortion of the shot pattern The brake is simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and only minimum modification of the gun barrel is requiredto adapt it for use with the brake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of themuzzle brake of the present invention secured to the barrel of a shotgun;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an end view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One form of the muzzle brake ofthe present invention, designed for use with a conventional shotgun isindicated generally at and includes an internally threaded sleeve 11which is adapted to engage the end of an externally threaded gun barrelB.

Three supports l2, l3 and 14 are secured to the sleeve 11 and extendaxially beyond the end thereof to support a circular reaction plate 15.The plate 15 is provided with a central bore 1511 which is coaxial withthe bore of the barrel B. When employed with shotguns, the diameter ofthe bore 15a is slightly greater than the diameter of the bore of barrelB to accommodate shot expansion between the end of the barrel and theplate. When employed with rifles, the diameter of the bore 15a may beequal to that of the rifle bore.

The upper circumferential surface of the reaction plate 15 is providedwith a notch or depression 151) which receives the end of a sighting ribR secured to the top of the barrel B by a series of pedestals P. The ribR acts to lock the brake 10 against rotational movement with respect tothe barrel 8.

A shotgun of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is adapted for usewith the brake 10 by first removing the end pedestal'P (not illustrated)supporting the rib R and cutting off a length x" of the barrel B. Theexternal surface of the barrel B is then threaded to receive the sleeve11. When attaching the brake l0to the barrel B, the rib R is held awayfrom the barrel to permit the brake to be rotated into engagement withthe external threads on the end of the barrel. The sleeve 11 is rotateduntil it is in the position illustrated in the FIGS. and the rib R isthen released and permitted to return to its normal position and engagein the depression 15b. The brake 10 may thereafter be removed by simplylifting the rib R out of the depression 15b and unthreading the sleeve11 from the barrel B.

An important feature of the muzzle brake 10 is the positioning of thesupports v12, 13 and 14 and the depression 151;. These four componentsof the brake are disposed about the plate 15 at equally spacedcircumferential locations. Moreover, the cross-sectional area of each ofthe supports 12, I3 and 14 and the depression 15b are equal to eachother whereby the positioning of the supports and depression and thecross-sectional dimensions of each ensure an axially directed reactionforce on the plate 15 to prevent alteration of the direction of travelof the shot. When the Brake 10 is to be employed with a rifle, nodepression is required and the supports are spaced to engage the plateat equidistant points from each other. I

The effective reaction surface area of the plate 15 is dependent uponthe type of shell employed and the muzzle energy of the firearm. Inestablishing the effective plate area, the reaction forces created bythe explosion of the shell and the travel of the projectile through thebarrel are first determined for the type of firearm being considered.The effective surface area of the plate 15 is then dimensioned so thatan equal and opposite force is created by the reaction against the platecaused by gasses emitted from the barrel.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A muzzle brake for hand-held firearms comprising:

a. an internally threaded sleeve having first and second axially spacedend;

b. a plurality of supporting members secured externally of said sleeveand extending axially beyond said first sleeve end;

c. a flat, centrally bored reaction plate secured plate secured to saidsupporting members with said central bore being concentrically alignedwith said sleeve and being axially spaced from said first sleeve end;and

d. a notch included along the outer circumferential area of saidreaction plate for receiving the sighting rib of a shot gun with thecross-sectional area of said notch being equal to the area of engagementof one of said supporting members with said plate.

2. The muzzle brake as defined in claim 1 wherein the area of engagementof one of said supporting members with said plate is equal to the areaof engagement of any other supporting member with said plate.

3. The muzzle brake as defined in claim 2 wherein said fiat plate iscircular.

4. The muzzle brake as defined in claim 3 wherein said notch is disposedabout said plate at equal circumferential distances between two of saidsupporting members.

5. The muzzle brake as defined in claim 4 wherein:

1. A muzzle brake for hand-held firearms comprising: a. an internallythreaded sleeve having first and second axially spaced end; b. aplurality of supporting members secured externally of said sleeve andextending axially beyond said first sleeve end; c. a flat, centrallybored reaction plate secured plate secured to said supporting memberswith said central bore being concentrically aligned with said sleeve andbeing axially spaced from said first sleeve end; and d. a notch includedalong the outer circumferential area of said reaction plate forreceiving the sighting rib of a shotgun with the cross-sectional area ofsaid notch being equal to the area of engagement of one of saidsupporting members with said plate.
 2. The muzzle brake as defined inclaim 1 wherein the area of engagement of one of said supporting memberswith said plate is equal to the area of engagement of any othersupporting member with said plate.
 3. The muzzle brake as defined inclaim 2 wherein said flat plate is circular.
 4. The muzzle brake asdefined in claim 3 wherein said notch is disposed about said plate atequal circumferential distances between two of said supporting members.5. The muzzle brake as defined in claim 4 wherein: a. said plurality ofsupporting members includes three supporting members; and b. said threesupporting members and said notch are equally spaced about thecircumference of said plate.
 6. The muzzle brake as defined in claim 1wherein the diameter of said central bore is greater than the internaldiameter of the firearm barrel on which it is be mounted for providingunobstructed shot travel in a shotgun.